Apparatus with control linkage for re-suspending solids in fluid in a tank

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a tank that is to be installed below the fill line of a tank includes a housing sealably attached to a sidewall of a tank, and a tubing having a flexible output end positioned within the housing such that the output end of the tubing extends past the sidewall of the tank. A control linkage is slidably positioned within the housing. The control linkage is connected to the flexible output end of the tubing. The control linkage is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The orientation of the flexible output end of the tubing is changed as the control linkage is moved between positions, such that the direction of fluid flowing out of the flexible output end of the tubing is also changed. A seal is provided for sealing the tubing and the control linkage within the housing.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for re-suspending solids in fluid in an interior of a tank, the solids having accumulated on a bottom wall of the tank, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing pipe sealably attached to a sidewall of the tank at an opening therein located proximal to the bottom wall and extending inwardly into the interior of the tank, the housing pipe comprising two slots on diametrically opposite sides thereof extending a predetermined distance from an inner end of the housing pipe toward the sidewall; 
 tubing at least partially positioned within the housing pipe and extending between an input end proximal to the sidewall and an output end at the inner end of the housing pipe, the tubing comprising a flexible hose and a nozzle attached to the flexible hose, the nozzle being positionable at the inner end of the housing pipe and coaxial therewith; 
 a pump for pumping the fluid through the tubing to exit therefrom through the flexible hose at the nozzle; 
 first and second control linkages, each said control linkage comprising a control rod extending between an outside end thereof located outside the sidewall and an inside end in the housing pipe, and a connector rod extending between a first end thereof pivotably connected to the inside end of the control rod of the control linkage thereof and a second end thereof attached to the nozzle; 
 the first and second control linkages being positioned at least partially within the housing pipe and movable relative to the housing pipe, the connector rods of the first and second control linkages being attached to diametrically opposite sides of the nozzle and each of the first and second control linkages being positioned adjacent to corresponding diametrically opposite sides of the tubing, the connector rods being aligned with the slots in the housing pipe; 
 each said control linkage being movable between a straight position, in which the hose is located substantially parallel to the housing pipe and the nozzle is located substantially coaxially with the housing pipe, and a bent position, in which the hose is at least partially located non-parallel to the housing pipe, to position the nozzle non-coaxially relative to the housing pipe and at least partially in one of the slots in the housing pipe, wherein the direction of the fluid flowing out of the nozzle is controllable via the control rods, for re-suspending the solids in the fluid in the tank; and 
 at least one seal for providing a seal between the tubing and the respective control rods of the first and second control linkages with the housing pipe, said at least one seal permitting sliding movement of the respective control rods of the first and second control linkages through said at least one seal. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stuffing box for sealably attaching the housing pipe to the sidewall of the tank. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing comprises a rigid portion extending from the flexible output end outwardly past the sidewall of the tank. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing comprises a valve, the valve being configured to prevent the fluid in the tank from escaping outwardly through the tubing. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 1  additionally comprising at least one guide bar to guide the nozzle in and out of the slots in the housing pipe as the control linkages are moved between the respective bent and the straight positions thereof. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for re-suspending solids in fluid in an interior of a tank, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing pipe sealably attached to a sidewall of the tank at an opening therein and extending inwardly into the interior of the tank, 
 the housing pipe comprising two slots positioned diametrically opposite to each other extending from an inner end of the housing pipe toward the sidewall; 
 tubing at least partially positioned within the housing pipe, the tubing comprising a flexible output end with a nozzle therein positionable at the inner end of the housing pipe; 
 a pump for pumping the fluid through the tubing to exit therefrom through the flexible output end at the nozzle; 
 two control linkages slidably positioned at least partially within the housing pipe, the control linkages being connected to diametrically opposite sides of the nozzle respectively and extending outside the tank, each of the control linkages being selectively movable between an extended position, in which the flexible output end is held substantially parallel to the housing pipe and the nozzle is substantially coaxial with the housing pipe, and a retracted position, in which the flexible output end is located substantially non-parallel with the housing pipe and partially in a selected one of the slots, to locate the nozzle non-coaxially with the housing pipe and at least partially in the selected one of the slots, thereby changing the direction of the fluid flowing out of the nozzle for re-suspending the solids in the fluid in the tank; and 
 at least one seal for sealing the tubing and the control linkages within the housing pipe, said at least one seal permitting sliding movement of the control linkages therethrough. 
 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to  claim 6  additionally comprising guide bars to guide the nozzle and the flexible output end of the tubing in and out of the respective slots as the control linkages are moved between the extended and the retracted positions respectively.